Micah stood. "Until we find the one who broke into the lab, I'll act as Vivi's guard."
Gavriel nodded before turning to Beth. "Let us go see Magnus."
Vivi and Etain left the Rioux estate with Micah in tow. When she went to head towards the lab, he tugged on her hand. "I would like to go to Level Six before you sequester yourself in your lab."
"Why?"
He shot Micah a look. The warrior walked to the far side of the hall to give them a bit of privacy. Etain looked back down at her. "Because you need a break away from here. You have spent every moment since your arrival either in the lab or in meetings. Allow me to take you on a date. We can pretend like this entire, horrible situation isn't happening for a while before returning to reality." Etain held both of her hands in his. "It is my responsibility to ensure your happiness, and right now you are not happy."
"So we just forget that Magnus is ill and go on a date?"
"Was Magnus ill this morning?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Will he be ill tonight?"
"Yes."
"Will he more than likely be ill tomorrow?" Etain continued raising an eyebrow.
"You know he will be," Vivi responded sourly.
"Then I don't think taking an hour out of your day to get away will harm him. It may actually do you a bit of good to clear your mind and start fresh."
"I hate it when you make sense," she grumbled.
He gave her hands a quick tug pulling her forward and off balance. As she fell against him, he quickly captured her lips. His kiss at first was gentle, but both of their hungers soon took over. When she inadvertently moaned he stepped back. The love she saw in his eyes humbled her. Not once since she had met him had he complained that she was putting others first. In fact, he had only gotten upset over the fact that she wasn't taking proper care of herself.
"You're too selfless," she said reaching up to touch his lips.
"Is it truly being selfless if serving others is what brings me happiness?" he asked.
"Try to put yourself first a bit more. You should have gotten a mate who would help you curb that, and look out for you, but you got stuck with me. I can barely keep track of myself," Vivi let her hand drop feeling worse for having put words to her feelings.
Etain thumped her between the eyes. "Stop that!" She glared at him. "Did you and Hal create the 'Thump Vivi' club or something?"
He just stared down at her smiling. "You need to put yourself first a bit more. You should have gotten a mate who would have the time to see to your health, not spend his day serving an entire city. But, you got stuck with me. I can barely keep my own home clean and feed myself, despite being over a thousand years old."
Vivi's mouth dropped open. When he said it, it sounded ridiculous. "How did you do that?"
His lips twitched. "I don't know what you mean." He looked up the transport tunnel. "Are you ready to experience fine dining on Level Six?"
"I love you."
His eyes widened in surprise at her sudden statement before he smiled wide. "And I love you too Vivian Vi'Aerlin."
She took his hand. "Not Princess Vivian?"
He shook his head. "To me, the fact that you are taking my last name trumps your royal status."
"We still need to register that," she reminded him.
He grinned down at her and pulled her into the tunnel. "I already have Rex drawing up the paperwork."
Etain called out to Micah, and he joined them as they floated up to Level Six. Vivian couldn't help smiling. She would be changing her name for the third and final time in her life. She couldn't wait to be Vivian Vi'Aerlin.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN